Bulls Suffer Injuries in Blowout Loss to 76ers

Chicago's playoff hopes take another hit as key players go down in lopsided defeat.

Mar. 29, 2026 at 5:07am

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The Chicago Bulls suffered a blowout 157-137 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers, with the team dealing with a number of injuries during the game. Guard Jaden Ivey remains sidelined with a knee issue, while center Nick Richards and forward Jalen Smith both left the game with injuries. The Bulls are now all but mathematically eliminated from playoff contention.

Why it matters

The Bulls' injury woes have derailed their season, with the team struggling to stay competitive as key players have gone down. The loss of Ivey, Richards, and Smith further depletes an already thin frontcourt, making it even harder for the team to bounce back and finish the season strong.

The details

Bulls coach Billy Donovan provided updates on the injured players after the game. Ivey, acquired in a trade earlier this season, had been expected to return during the team's current road trip but suffered a setback after colliding with a teammate in practice. Richards injured his right elbow, while Smith re-aggravated a nagging calf issue. The 76ers took full advantage, with center Joel Embiid scoring 35 points in just 28 minutes.

  • Ivey has been out for about a month while working on a knee-strengthening program.
  • Richards and Smith were both injured in the first half of Wednesday's game against the 76ers.

The players

Jaden Ivey

A guard acquired by the Bulls in a trade earlier this season, Ivey has been sidelined for about a month with a knee injury and suffered a setback in practice that has further delayed his return.

Nick Richards

The Bulls' starting center, Richards left Wednesday's game with an injured right elbow.

Jalen Smith

A forward for the Bulls, Smith re-aggravated a recurring calf injury in the first half of the loss to the 76ers.

Joel Embiid

The star center for the Philadelphia 76ers, Embiid dominated the undermanned Bulls with 35 points in just 28 minutes of action.

Billy Donovan

The head coach of the Chicago Bulls, Donovan provided updates on the team's injuries and acknowledged their playoff hopes are all but over.

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What they’re saying

“We're not mathematically eliminated, but we're pretty much eliminated. I think the important thing [the rest of the season] is we try to play the right way.”

— Josh Giddey, Bulls guard

“After he banged knees, he did have some swelling. That's down now. He's made some progress, but he's not on this trip now. He was [left] behind, and we'll try to continue to work on his strength and get him stronger. Banging the knee gave him a little more discomfort.”

— Billy Donovan, Bulls head coach

What’s next

The Bulls will have to decide whether to shut down Jalen Smith for the remainder of the season as he continues to deal with a calf injury. Jaden Ivey's status for a potential return this season remains uncertain as the team works to strengthen his knee.

The takeaway

The Bulls' injury woes have derailed their season, with key players like Ivey, Richards, and Smith all going down in the loss to the 76ers. The team's playoff hopes are all but over, and they will now focus on getting their injured players healthy and evaluating their roster for the future.